Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-05-11
JIMMY ROWELL.
And How He Rescued Little Kit
tie Nichols.

Noon glared upon the wide, scared
fats and the rickety buildings of Plain
vile. 1t was the midday of that brie,
season-the ''St Martins Summer" o.
the Frcnchman-which, between No
vepber and December, lends q passing
brightness to the sky and warmth to thl
air. Not a flake of snow lay on tn,
withersd grass; no frost had yet bound
the soil; only the long howl of tAs
gale, morning and eveBi1g, suggested
the period of storms. Even old set
tiers, whose staupch champions Of ths
superior days that were, owned thu
matehless beauty and serenity Of the
season.
The desolate station hustled that
dpy with 1n1spsl ACTIVITY. Ponies
were fastened pngly or IN groups, at
the difSIept hit0Hing-places. Men
were pddIipg them, loosening straps,
adjusting buckles, ordering, criticisihg,
chafl1ng one another in the reckless
fashion of the West, where they joke
over every thing, from murder UP to
an Indian raid. That the present ex-
element however, had q slighter
cause might be inferred from the
crowds unchecked and extravagaht
mirth.
They were to have started at sunrise,
and Of course were nearly ready by
noon. Having waited so long the party
moved an adjournment for dinner
The proposition finding favor sundry
fires were kindled, and the air made
fragrant with the steam from boiling
coffee and frying pork. Talk flew
back and forth, as the rough cooks
moved about. The keen wit of the
frontier is the keenest at meal times.
Dinner being dispatched, the last loi-
terer was springing to the saddle when
boy of about sixteen, mounted on u
weary-looking white pony, rode up to
the group.
Heaven save us" growled tall
fellow to his neighbour. "Ef thar amt
Jimmy Rowcll, always late and never
left. I'll be-blessed, cf | wouldn' {
like to give the little rooster shakin'
for his impotence. !"
Don't tell him So" returned the
other, laughing shortly. Lets ride
OH, Jake"
Not much!" said Jake, facing the
newcomer with scowl meant to be
impressive.
Long Jake's scowl was calculated to
make an impression. He was n lean,
dark-browed fellow, with a skin hard
and brown as leather, deep-set, keen
black eyes. and struggling black
beard. One cheek was strangely de-
formed, by long, rcpulsive scar,
which, perhaps, gave rise to the report
that he had been u guerrilla. He had
not been long in that district, and,
though expert in the arts of the cattle
camp, was not a general favorite.
To Jim Rowell he had taken a posi-
tive dislike, as cordially returned. The
two seldom met without wordy
skirmish, in which the elder was often
worsted, to the great delight of his
comrades. Jim, with his daring spirit,
his bold, ready replies, and uncommon
"smartness," was kind of pct
among thcm-a position not always
tending to further his best interests.
"Well, JIM" announced Jake, SOL
EMMY, "cf I'd boy with no more
sense than you've got I'd kill him
while he was easy to kill, that's all.
What's up nowP"
Nothing, " retorted the boy, quiet
~ peeling his willow switch, except
that they're going to hang you in the
morning"
A burst of laughter greeted this
speech, and the herder, turning hi.
horses head, rode off at full speed,
Jimmy and his friends following suit.
What brought you up in such q
hurry, young manp" asked the stout,
jolly AL Thompson. Ibid you hear
whore we were goingP"
mo-" answered Jimmy, rather
gloomily. "A little girls been lost
down our way, and they're hunting for
her every where. 1 thought some body
round here might have seen her.
Where are all you fellows going, any.
how? Farp"
"Wcll, / should rather jedge so.
You know old Abep'
THAT big brindlc steer no one can
catchp"
1.-The same. Tom jenkins calls him
his'n, but b'lieve he was with Injuns
ofol'e he came on this range. 1t dom
matter. He might b'long to the devil
tpr no fence kin stan agin him. We'll
we're Ill agoin' to hunt him down, ant
You bet well have some fun!''
II wish l could CO." sighed Jimmy,
"Come right along, them" was tn,
mans invitation, turning his bearded
face full on the hesitating listener
"This is the very best chance to finC
tho little girl, and your folks ncedn'
Know nothing more. Well spare
grub and you kin help us along. CONF
on"
'1-don't know-yes, / WILL" pro
nounced Jimmy, rapidly changing tn,
uncertain for the rcsolute tone, as h,
started up his reluctant pony.
II tell you what Il is, Jem," said ,
little lrishman, in confidence, "finan
cislly, that's the worst little horse
ever see."
"Sho'll SO like thunder when sh,
gets started" protested the boy, mucl
hurt. II was by no means pony Il
brag Of, but, being his only article o
property. he could not afford to laugh
very'heartily at such sallies.
He. himself was nothing extra TO lool
At if,you came to that. A long, thir
figure, clad in the rustic's coarse gar